RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said that government may call in army anytime for protection of state institutions as Article 245 is still in force in the federal capital.
“Hundreds of army jawans and security personnel have been put on high alert and government may call them any anytime, if needed,” he said while talking to media persons at the Police Lines Headquarters after attending a passing-out parade of Assistant Superintendents of Police.
He said only Interior Ministry had the authority to requisition or withdraw army. Troops would be called in on a short notice under Article 245, he said.
Chaudhry Nisar said that PTI activists will not be allowed to enter the Red Zone. He said that if PTI wanted to stage a peaceful, democratic and political gathering on November 30, then the government would not obstruct the rally; rather it would facilitate it. He warned that nobody would be allowed to ransack the state buildings. The Interior Minister said that PTI had sought permission from the district administration to hold a rally at D-Chowk and a decision on its request would be taken on Friday (today).
Interior Minister claimed that over Rs 1 billion had been so far been spent on law enforcement agencies performing their duty in federal capital owing to sit-ins.
He said a plan had been evolved for the use of water cannons for the first time, if needed. A three-tier security plan has been chalked out for tackling November 30 gathering, according to him. Referring to PTI’s ongoing sit-in at D-Chowk, he said that only 30 to 40 people are presently staging a sit-in at D-Chowk and government can remove it with the help of only 10 police men. But the government is avoiding any political arrest or confrontation, he added.
The Interior Minister said that there had been a decline in terrorist attacks since the launch of military operation against them.
Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, the Interior Minister praised the sacrifices rendered by the security personnel.
